Question 1

The term degradation ceremony was coined by sociologist ________.

Accepted Answer

Harold Garfinkel introduced the term "degradation ceremony" to describe a process by which an individual is stripped of their identity and publicly stigmatized.

Question 2

Cloward and Ohlin addressed the street hustler as a role model for youth and the methods used to earn easy money through a life of crime. What did they call this career path of delinquency?

Accepted Answer

Cloward and Ohlin called this career path of delinquency the "illegitimate opportunity structure," referring to the social and economic opportunities available to individuals involved in criminal activities as opposed to legitimate means of earning a living.

Question 3

The early sociologist who argued that deviance might be functional for society was ________.

Accepted Answer

Emile Durkheim argued that deviance might be functional for society as it helps in reinforcing norms and values, promoting social unity, and providing a sense of collective identity. He believed that some level of deviance is necessary for society to function properly.

Question 4

John desires the best things in life-a fast car,designer clothes,and membership in exclusive clubs. But rather than work his way through the system,he has discovered he can have all these things by selling crack cocaine in the inner city. How would Merton classify John?

Accepted Answer

John is someone who desires the best things in life but has chosen an illegal means of achieving them. He is an innovator, according to Merton's Strain Theory, because he has adapted to his situation by using unconventional means (selling drugs) to achieve his goals.

Question 5

Ritualistic procedures intended to humiliate norm violators and mark them as being moral outcasts of the group to which they once belonged are called ________.

Accepted Answer

Ritualistic procedures intended to humiliate norm violators and mark them as being moral outcasts of the group to which they once belonged are called degradation ceremonies. Sanctions refer to punishments or rewards for following or violating norms, profiling refers to using certain characteristics to make assumptions about a person, and stereotyping refers to making assumptions about a group of people based on oversimplified and generalized characteristics.

Question 6

According to strain theory,the underlying cause of deviance is that people experience a sense of normlessness. This sense of normlessness is referred to as ________.

Accepted Answer

According to strain theory, deviance occurs when individuals experience a sense of normlessness or anomie. This occurs when the norms and values of a society are unclear or inconsistent, leading to a sense of confusion and disorientation among individuals. Anomie can arise in situations where there is rapid social change, such as during a period of economic growth or decline, or when there is a breakdown in social institutions and structures.

Question 7

Based on the 2011 edition of the Statistical Abstract in the United States,the state with the lowest rate of violent crime in America is ________,while the state with the highest rate of violent crime is ________.

Accepted Answer

According to the 2011 edition of the Statistical Abstract in the United States, Maine had the lowest rate of violent crime and Nevada had the highest rate of violent crime. The other options listed do not match the data from the Statistical Abstract.

Question 8

In The Scarlet Letter,why was Hester Prynne required to wear a scarlet "A" on her dress?

Accepted Answer

The scarlet "A" on Hester Prynne's dress served as a negative sanction and an example of shaming. It was a public symbol of her adultery and an attempt to punish her and deter others from committing the same act. This is evident throughout the novel, as the townspeople ostracize and condemn Hester for her actions.

Question 9

According to Cloward and Ohlin,what is the underlying cause of deviance and delinquency in unstable slums of a city?

Accepted Answer

Cloward and Ohlin proposed that the underlying cause of deviance and delinquency in unstable slums of a city was the lack of legitimate opportunities available for individuals to succeed. Illegitimate opportunity structures, such as drug dealing or gang involvement, provide an alternative way to achieve success and wealth in these areas, leading to increased instances of deviance and delinquency.

Question 10

All of the following acts qualify as white-collar crime EXCEPT ________.

Accepted Answer

The act of a bank teller robbing a bank is not classified as white-collar crime as it involves physical force and violence. White-collar crimes are non-violent crimes committed by individuals of high social status in the context of their legitimate occupations. Choices B, C, and D involve various forms of white-collar crimes such as bribery, fraud, and tax evasion.

Question 11

Based on Merton's typologies,what do drug addicts,the homeless,nuns living in a convent,and monks living in a monastery have in common?

Accepted Answer

According to Merton's typologies, retreatists are individuals who reject both societal goals and the means of achieving them. Drug addicts, the homeless, nuns, and monks often withdraw from conventional societal goals and means, fitting the retreatist category.

Question 12

The term white-collar crime was coined by sociologist ________ to refer to crimes that people of respectable social status commit in the course of their occupation.

Accepted Answer

Edwin Sutherland is credited with coining the term white-collar crime in the 1930s, defining it as crimes committed by persons of high social status and respectability in the course of their occupations.

Question 13

The ________ theory developed by Robert Merton is based on the idea that most people want to attain cultural goals,but not everyone has the legitimate means of achieving them.

Accepted Answer

Robert Merton's strain theory proposes that individuals who are unable to attain their desired cultural goals due to limited access to legitimate means of achieving them experience strain or frustration. This can lead to different forms of deviant behavior as individuals seek to attain their goals through illegitimate means.

Question 14

In an effort to resist the label of "deviant," most people will develop rationales to justify their deviant acts. Sykes and Matza refer to these rationales as ________.

Accepted Answer

Sykes and Matza's theory of neutralization argues that individuals who engage in deviant behavior use techniques of neutralization to justify their actions and resist the deviant label. These techniques allow individuals to temporarily suspend their adherence to conventional moral and ethical norms, and to create rationales that excuse their behavior or make it seem less harmful. Therefore, the best choice is B - techniques of neutralization.

Question 15

All of the following theories follow the principles of symbolic interactionism EXCEPT for which one?

Accepted Answer

Strain theory, unlike differential association, control, and labeling theories, does not primarily focus on the symbolic interactions and meanings that individuals ascribe to their actions and social roles. Instead, it emphasizes the societal pressures that drive individuals to commit deviant acts.

Question 16

How would conflict theorists classify migrant workers,seasonal employees,and members of the workforce who are subject to layoffs?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How would conflict theorists classify migrant workers,seasonal...

Question 17

The crime with the highest increase among women between 1992 and 2009 was ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The crime with the highest increase among...

Question 18

Sociologists who view law as an instrument of oppression used to control workers are aligned most with which sociological perspective?

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective views society as a constant struggle for power and resources between groups. According to this perspective, the law is a tool used by those in power (such as the ruling class or employers) to maintain their control over the working class. Therefore, sociologists who view law as an instrument of oppression used to control workers are aligned most with the conflict perspective.

Question 19

When Anthony worked as a prison counselor,he would often ask property offenders why they committed the crime. The overwhelming response was,"I had to feed my family." How would Sykes and Matza classify this response?

Accepted Answer

Sykes and Matza would classify this response as an appeal to higher loyalties because the offender is justifying their criminal behavior by stating that they committed the crime in order to provide for their family, which they view as a higher loyalty than following the law.

Question 20

Matthew and Ryan are devout Christian Fundamentalists and believe that homosexuality is against God's will and that homosexuals deserve to be punished. They spend a couple of evenings each week in gay bashing activities that include physical violence and verbal assaults. Based on their rationalization,which technique of neutralization is MOST applicable for Matthew and Ryan to maintain positive self-images?

Accepted Answer

Matthew and Ryan likely use the "denial of a victim" technique, as they believe that homosexuals deserve punishment, thus justifying their actions by perceiving the victims as deserving of the harm.

Quiz 6: Deviance and Social Control